ESPN's Mike Greenberg opened Monday's edition of "Get Up!" with this heartfelt message: "First, foremost and forever, thank you to all the medical professionals and first responders who are working so hard, so bravely, to keep us safe and healthy. This program is for you. If it helps you get 10-15 minutes of relaxation, then it was well worth our effort."
As Greenberg put it later during a 45-minute interview with the Tribune, "I feel like doing our show right now is valuable. We're not saving lives, but we are providing some outlet."
"Get Up!" launched two years ago against the backdrop of an April blizzard in New York City. It fit. The start was messy, and critics questioned Greenberg's decision to split with Mike Golic, his radio partner of 18 years.
Michelle Beadle exited, and the show pivoted away from fashion and pop culture.
"If I walk into McDonald's and they say, 'We're not doing hamburgers right now,' I would say: What the hell are you talking about? That's what you do," Greenberg said. "We made the wrong assumption and corrected it within a couple of weeks.
"What I heard loud and clear on social media and from friends was: Greeny, we put on ESPN because we want the sports."
February was the 12th consecutive month of ratings growth for the show, which airs 7-9 a.m. Chicago time.
"I asked (fellow Northwestern alumnus) Seth Meyers: How long did it take before you felt like you really knew what you were trying to do on 'Late Night'? He said two years," Greenberg said. "I think it took us a year to where I thought: What we're doing is right; now we just have to get better at it. If you and I are having this conversation 12 months from now, hopefully we'll be much better still."
More from our conversation with Greenberg:
